Chapter 30: "Team Z vs Team Y Pt 2"
Team Z once again on the offensive.
Isagi immediately sprinted forward with the ball.
But just as the defense closed in.
He stopped dead in his tracks.
Team Y froze.
Caught off guard by his sudden halt.
Niko furrowed his brow.
"What is he trying to do?"
He thought.
Unsure of Isagi's intentions.
Before anyone could react.
Chigiri zipped past Isagi in a blur.
Creating a small gap between him and the defenders.
Isagi, with a quick glance.
Passed the ball to him.
Three of Team Y's defenders immediately closed in on Chigiri.
But he was quick on his feet.
Feinting and darting around them.
Without hesitation, he passed the ball to Bachira on the far left.
Who skillfully trapped it and continued his dribble forward.
Like clockwork, another set of defenders closed in.
But Bachira wasn't fazed.
He passed it smoothly to Kira.
Who swiftly sent it over to Kunigami.
Team Y's defenders were scrambling.
Unable to catch up with the fluid passing of Team Z.
Kunigami found himself with a clear path to the goal.
But just as he prepared to make his move.
Okawa appeared from seemingly nowhere.
Intercepting Kunigami's advance.
Kunigami, unfazed, passed the ball to Isagi.
Who stood near the corner.
The ball barely left his foot before Niko was there.
Blocking his way.
"You and I."
Niko said coolly.
"Have the same eyes. But… you can't win against me. I'm the one controlling the game."
Niko attempted to snatch the ball.
But Isagi held firm, smirking.
"Is that so?"
Isagi replied.
Keeping the ball out of Niko's reach.
"Then I'll just mark you, so you can't do anything."
With a quick flick of his foot.
Isagi performed a perfect heel kick.
Sending the ball high over Niko's head.
As Niko tried to recover.
Isagi darted past him.
Sending a pinpoint pass to Raichi.
Who was in the perfect spot to receive it.
Niko, confused, muttered.
"Even if you try to stop me, you can't stop my planning."
Isagi tilted his head, eyes glinting.
"Hm? But I already did."
Niko blinked.
"What?"
Just as he was about to process the situation.
Raichi was already speeding towards the goal.
Team Y's defenders quickly converged.
Positioning themselves to block Raichi and prevent any chance of a shot.
Raichi grinned.
Clearly not worried.
"You idiots fell for it."
Team Y's defenders were caught off guard.
Not understanding what Raichi meant.
In that split second.
Raichi launched a perfect arching pass over everyone.
Sailing toward the center of the field and heading for the goal.
The defenders scrambled to recover.
And Okawa was the first to arrive.
Positioning himself to catch the ball.
But then, out of nowhere.
Kuon soared up behind him.
Surprising Okawa with his unexpected jumping power.
"What the hell?!"
Okawa yelled.
Unable to react in time.
Kuon's head was just above him as he made contact with the ball.
Sending it flying straight toward the goal.
The goalkeeper, caught off guard by the quick turn of events.
Couldn't react fast enough.
The ball sailed past him, scoring cleanly.
Goal!
2-1
Team Z's players celebrated.
While Team Y stood in stunned silence.
Niko, at the corner of the field, was speechless.
Watching the goal unfold.
But then, Isagi's voice broke through his thoughts.
"You and I."
In a slow tone.
"…Like you said, we are the same."
He spoke with confidence.
"We see and think the same things…"
"So, I figured out your team's plan to go all out for a counterattack."
Niko's eyes widened.
"But you see, Niko."
Isagi continued, smirking.
"I can stop your plans."
He then made the same circle gesture with his fingers, mocking Niko.
"But you can't stop mine."
Niko stood frozen.
A hint of disbelief in his expression as Isagi walked away.
Leaving him shaken and unsure of what had just happened.
…
The whistle blew.
And once again, it was Team Y's turn to go on the offensive.
This time, they were playing aggressively.
Niko, at the front of the charge.
Locked eyes with Isagi across the field.
"I refuse to believe that's true!"
He shouted.
Frustration evident in his voice.
Isagi smiled, unphased.
As he sprinted forward alongside his teammates.
Team Z's formation was solid, their defense tight.
They weren't giving an inch.
It was clear both teams were preparing for a collision.
But Isagi didn't flinch.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
As Team Y pushed forward.
Isagi stood his ground and intercepted Niko's path.
The two locked eyes for a moment.
And Niko snarled.
"Get off of me!"
But Isagi didn't say a word.
He stayed silent.
His body pressed against Niko, remaining in position.
Niko's irritation was evident.
And it wasn't long before his emotional outburst slipped into a gap in his movements.
That's when Isagi saw his opportunity.
Niko's lapse gave Isagi the perfect opening to steal the ball.
In one smooth motion.
He snatched it away and darted past him.
Breaking free from the confrontation and sprinting toward the goal.
The whole time.
Team Z stayed locked onto their respective opponents.
Ensuring that none of Team Y's players could disrupt Isagi's run.
The defense was tight, suffocating.
Isagi had orchestrated this perfectly.
Letting Niko's frustration become his own downfall.
As Isagi approached the goal.
The goalkeeper kept his eyes trained on him.
Waiting for any move.
But Isagi was always one step ahead.
"Actually, no…"
Isagi murmured to himself.
His eyes narrowing as he closed in on the goal.
"We're not the same, Niko."
He didn't slow down.
"Unlike you… I can handle my own goals."
He paused for a fraction of a second.
Then grinned.
"Because I'm a Striker."
With a powerful swing of his leg.
Isagi launched the ball toward the net.
It rocketed like a missile.
Too fast, too precise for the goalkeeper to even react.
The keeper could only watch in horror as the ball sailed past him.
Too late to stop it.
Goal!
3-1
Niko stood there.
Frozen for a moment, watching the ball rip into the net.
The cheers of Team Z seemed to drown out his thoughts.
But in the chaos of that brief silence, his mind raced.
"There must be a solution…"
He thought desperately.
"There has to be!"
He clenched his fists, his body tense.
His eyes darted around the field.
Trying to calculate, trying to find a crack in Team Z's dynamic.
But then his hands dropped, lifelessly.
"Not like this…"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone